CHapter 93


    Theseics were Marcel’s pride and joy! He had to twist Major Gat’s arm to finally snag them,


    and now he was hooked right in the thick of the juicy bits!


    Marcel had spent a lifetime in uniform, always the picture of stone–faced seriousness, but for these


    comics, he was practically on his knees, clinging to his granddaughter’s arm, begging.


    The moment Calvin heard that Noe was the one dishing out the prescriptions, he zipped his lip,


    grabbed the meds his granddaughter handed him, and was out like a light all afternoon.


    Now, he just swung by to scribble a signature on the prescriptions that Noe whipped up, just


    going through the motions.


    Officially, Calvin was still the head honcho doc, but let’s be real, the power to spring Marcel from the


    hospitaly in the hands of his darling granddaughter!


    “Noe, can’t you leave just one for Grandpa? I’m at the good part, about to hit the motherlode of


    the plot!”


    Seeing Marcel get the same treatment, Sexton was having a field day, grinning from ear to ear.


    “What’s so great about those rattyics anyway? You’ve been through a stack of them and still no


    clue who’s kiddo that is.”


    Sexton had flipped through some of Marcel’sics himself.


    “But the next issue is gonna spill the beans, right? Just leave me one!”


    Noe picked up aic, thumbing through it nonchntly.


    “Why’s it in Gerastor?”


    Marcel chuckled. “Theic’s called Tandy, a Gerastor artist. I learned Gerastor just for this!


    Memorizing words at my age, talk about a slog!”


    His nightstand was still piled high with dictionaries!


    Tandy?


    Never heard of thisic artist.


    Noe flipped through theic in hand. It was a stunner, bold colors, a style one wouldn’t see


    much from local artists.


    With a slight frown, Noe studied thest panel. It showed a heart–shaped orphanage next to a


    hospital with four bold letters on top.


    Tandy Hospital!


    Why on earth was Marcel’sic tied up with Tandy Hospital?


    Without a peep, Noe pocketed theic, facing Marcel’s puppy–dog eyes. “Grandpa, I’ll hold


    onto these for now. You’ll get them back once you’re out.”


    11.50


    Marcel’s face fell. He flopped back onto the bed, hamming up every ache in his body.


    “Ouch! I feel awful… is this the end for me? Noe, if I kick the bucket, promise you’ll spill the beans


    on the rest of theic.”


    Noe was at a loss for words. Where was that dignified,manding Grandpa? Turned hustler


    over a fewics?


    If word got out, jaws would hit the floor.


    Resigned, Noe handed back one issue. “If I find out you’ve been up all night reading. I’m taking


    this one too.”


    “Deal!” Marcel sprung to life, clutching theic from Noe’s hand, darting back to his room.


    fearing thest issue might get swiped.


    Halfway out the door, he remembered something else, rushed back, and snapped a bunch of selfies


    with his precious granddaughter.


    “Heh, let’s see that old coot Merrick show off now. Who’s got no photo now?”


    After a victoryp on his socials, Marcel trotted off,ic in hand.


    Noe watched his retreat, a mix of exasperation and amusement. Guess the old man still had


    some pep in his step.


    Sexton snorted at Marcel’s antics. “Noe, your grandpa’s got a screw loose. After you tie the knot


    with Palmer, you’ll bunk with me, got it? In case his bad habits spoil my great–grandkid.”


    Great–grandkid…


    Noe and Palmer hadn’t even sealed the deal, and Sexton was already counting chickens. Seeing


    the old man’s bubble of bliss, Noe couldn’t bring herself to burst it.


    “Grandpa Sexton, I’ll drop by tomorrow.”


    “Don’t wear yourself out, kiddo.” Sexton sped Noe’s hand, snuck a small box from under the


    bed, and slipped it into her hand while Palmer was distracted.


    When Palmer looked over, Sexton was back to whispering sweet nothings, ying it cool.


    “Noe, you’re busting your butt for my meds, and I’ve lived a good long life. A pill more or less


    won’t kill me. Don’t overdo it, promise me.”


    He patted Noe’s hand, nudged the little box into her sleeve, and winked mischievously.


    “I’m good, Grandpa Sexton. You rest up. I’m heading out.”


    “Hey, Palmer! Walk Noe out. And you, scram! You’re cramping my style. Scat!” Sexton had zero


    patience for his own grandson, shooing him out with a mutter. “Useless kid, standing around like


    furniture. Stick with Noe, foot the bill when she shops, be her chauffeur, and wait on her hand and


    foot. Got no clue how to charm ady. Your dad ain’t no fool. How’d he end up with you…”


    11:50


    Sexton sent Palmer packing with a dressing down.


    Noe couldn’t help but chuckle at Palmer’s look of utter resignation. Herughter seemed to lift his


    spirits in an instant.


    Maybe she felt the same way about what Grandpa said?


    Outside the hospital, Noe handed Palmer aic. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    The whole thing was in Gerastor, but as the bigwig of the Pock Group, Palmer was a polyglot. He


    breezed through it.


    “Tandy Hospital? You suspect thisic’s tied to Tandy Hospital?”


    “Sort of. I’m not sure, but with Tandy Hospital and Heartfelt Orphanage popping up, this artist’s no


    simpleton.”


    Palmer nodded. “I’ll dig into it. Leave it to me.”


    “Let’s divvy up the work. The Obelisk Organization has got a yground in Gerastor territory, but


    the Abyssal Organization doesn’t.”


    She remembered thatst year, Obelisk Organization muscled its way into calling the shots in


    several missions within Gerastor, and that was when Abyssal Organization bowed out of the


    game.


    Palmer chuckled under his breath, his voice deep and maic, oozing with sex appeal.


    “If you hadn’t brought it up, I would’ve almost forgotten how your crew kicked m